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LABOR AGAIN FAILS COUNTRY COMMUNITIES

19 February 2015 Daniel Andrews’ announcement today in no way replaces the Coalition’s Country Roads and Bridges Program and will still leave country councils $40 million short every year.

By calling them “country” programs Daniel Andrews is trying to hide the fact that the $85 million will actually be spread across all of regional Victoria – not provided to genuine country communities.

This compares to the $11 billion Daniel Andrews plans to spend on the Melbourne Metro Rail project, the $8 billion he’ll spend removing Melbourne level crossings, and the $100 million he’s allocated for the Flinders Street Station upgrade.

Daniel Andrews must put an end to these desperate stunts and actually deliver for country Victorians.

Background:

The Coalition’s $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program provided, on average, $1 million to each of Victoria’s 40 country councils every year for four years.

That money was spent on roads and bridges that the local councils identified as their priorities.

The Coalition committed to continuing the program during the election campaign.

The Country Roads and Bridges Program was on top of the VicRoads budget, which funds major regional roads and bridges.